SHAUN KENNY-DOWALL’S EXPERIENCE ‘INVALUABLE’ FOR 2020 AND BEYOND – TONY SMITH

[josie andrews]

Hull Kingston Rovers head coach Tony Smith believes Shaun Kenny-Dowall’s experience will be vital towards securing progress in the 2020 Betfred Super League campaign.

The outside-back has signed a two-year deal with the Robins and joins from Newcastle Knights, whom he has helped climb the NRL ladder following three successive ‘wooden spoons’.

With Grand Final and Four Nations success up his sleeve, Smith is sure that Kenny-Dowall can become a force in the Rovers line-up and lead by example.

Speaking to hullkr.co.uk, Smith said: “It is fantastic that the club has been able to bring someone over with Shaun’s experience – it is important for us to maintain those high standards, in terms of people with experience, with what they can bring to the table.

“The 2020 squad is largely going to be a young and enthusiastic side. We have lost a couple of experienced players, and it’s vital that we regain that mix. We’ll be maintaining those high standards by bringing in somebody of Shaun’s calibre.

“I have spoken at length with him, he’s an astute player who is still in good shape and in a good place in his career. He’s been performing well regularly and has a real interest in passing on his knowledge and experience to the squad.

“Shaun is somebody who has won competitions and he has played for his country. His attitude towards keeping those high standards that we spoke about are great to see and he keeps himself in very good shape.

“Passing on the lessons he has learned over the years to the younger players was a big part of the reason why he wants to come here. He’ll be working closely with the coaching staff in that regard and we’re all excited to have Shaun join us within the next two months.”

https://www.hullkr.co.uk/shaun-kenny-dowall-tony-smith/